Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 May 10, 2011 5:39 pm gee Im starting to feel like a serial poster here, but helps to ask for feedback and opinions! So have been set on a black and white kitchen scheme from the start, but feedback about the diamondgloss in black for benchtops is very much that they are hard to keep clean, show up marks and smears terribly.With 3 sons and 1 husband, all of whom I class as being "domestically challenged" Im still keen to go with a black benchtop but considering a matt surface instead. My query is, is the matt as hard to keep clean in black or is it just the diamondgloss?eveyone Ive had feedback from is about the gloss so just wondered? thanks... black gloss or matt benchtops???? 2May 10, 2011 6:02 pm DO NOT go with a dark matt colour. We had a navy matt laminex in one house and seriously it was the bain of my existence!!! A dark colour will always show marks but I would always choose a gloss in a dark colour over a matt. Some things are worth waiting for. Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 3May 10, 2011 7:06 pm kyton DO NOT go with a dark matt colour. We had a navy matt laminex in one house and seriously it was the bain of my existence!!! A dark colour will always show marks but I would always choose a gloss in a dark colour over a matt. x 2 Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 5May 11, 2011 1:02 pm I have recently replaced our kitchen and went with the black diamond gloss benchtop and we have no trouble keeping it clean and have not yet put any scratches on it, the Kitchen was only put in early december 2010 so it still early days for us, we also have the white polyeurathene doors and i reckon they look fantastic together. One thing i found was that there is an extra cost for the diamond gloss as apposed to the matt finish and i noticed most kitchen places were pushing us towards the matt finish which I believe was purely a cost driven push Good luck with your kitchen Cheers Darren Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 6May 11, 2011 2:46 pm I've had both a matt black laminex and black diamond gloss in two previous homes (first home and then rental property). The matt black was terrible - showed marks, scratches, never looked spotless. The diamond gloss didn't show the scratches as much, but every streak was visible and I was forever wiping it with various cloths to get it to look shiny. Personally, after both experiences I would not go for a black benchtop ever again. I've gone to the extreme and now have a whitish Caesarstone and have no complaints at all. If you are set on a black/white kitchen I'd go black for the splash or cupboards and have a lighter benchtop. Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 7May 11, 2011 9:04 pm I agree with the earlier posts. My dad is a cabinetmaker and told us not to get gloss. We're only going with a white colour and he says even with white you can see every mark on them. Land at Chermside At tender stage Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 8May 11, 2011 11:49 pm thanks for the feedback, still undecided,just so many choices!! my current kitchen is laminex in a matt but a multicolored apricot color[sounds gross], but it has been fantastic,we're pretty tough on it,, even I sometimes cut on it, and it has one tiny little chip and another tiny little mark and its over 10 years old!! selections are on friday so need to make a decision before then, might head back to the kitchen company tomorrow for another look. Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 9May 29, 2011 5:47 pm Hi ... a bit nervous here, my first post, but I am glad to have found this forum - I have spent many happy hours reading and admiring everyones photos. Also glad to have found this particular thread, as I have the exact same problem ... I am currently upgrading my kitchen and already have white (satin finish) cabinet doors, but am replacing benchtops and splashbacks. I really wanted some "wow" factor and had my heart set on Laminex Jet Terrazo Diamond Gloss finish benchtops and black glass splashback - but am worried that the diamond gloss will show every single fingerprint and mark - especially around the cooktop ... and that the matt finish will do the same ... oh decisions! Have almost gone totally the opposite and am now considering a white/almost white benchtop with a black fleck through it so as to minimise the noticability of marks/scratches. What do others think? Unfortunately my budget doesn't stretch to real stone Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 10May 29, 2011 6:12 pm I would stay away from black altogether, maybe go white and incorporate black knik knaks. Our Acreage Build The Lakeview Lodge - Beechwood Homes 01/04/10 YES 2010 - Deposit paid 23/09 - PCI CANCELLED 28/09 - PCI - will it happen.-18 months later 07/10/11 - ITS OURS..WOOHOO Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 12May 30, 2011 10:55 am Black benchtops look fantasctic but such a headache to keep clean. Even water leaves a mark! I have black granite in my current home and I'm forever buffing it. Gloss looks great too but be warned with constant heat on gloss laminate after a while looses its sheen on regularly used areas. Learned that from my prevoius home. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ All new built homes look like display homes... until the furniture goes in. Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 13May 30, 2011 12:16 pm Thank you so much for responses ... I am now leaning away from black as a result of advice, and also having looked at more photos of everyone's kitchens perhaps going towards a stone look (or even white gloss) benchtop with black splashback - I really want some black and I have red accessories - My kitchenaid stand mixer is empire red, as are some of my other accessories - and I think they would looks great against stone (or white) with black glass. There is just so much to read and look at on this forum - I am spending a lot of time learning lots! Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 14Jun 15, 2011 2:33 pm I have black granite at the moment. Its not hard to keep clean. I dont use any products, just a wipe over with a CLEAN cloth with a bit of detergent, and then dry it with a paper towel (preferably), or clean tea towel. Grease is your biggest enemy as well as dried water dropplets. For the look, I think its worth it, and would do it again if I had the option Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 15Jun 15, 2011 11:11 pm So just an update, have gone with the black diamondgloss[ebony marble].i may live to regret it, but it seems that windex is the easiest way to clean it, and I actually already keep that nearby in my kitchen and use it to clean the front of my microwave, which shows up marks terribly, so figure once Im in my new kitchen it wiill just become part of my routine to zip over it with windex.I also work in a kitchen where I often do the same thing with the stainless steel benchtops and microwaves so Im used to it anyway. I have wondered if I should have gone with a white/light top, but decision is made so Ill live with it. Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 16Jun 29, 2011 1:34 am Hi all,I am very new to this forum but truly love the idea of everyone helping each other with thier problems. Just like most of you I too have a problem with this black benchtop idea ,which way to go? I have just been reading up on Wilsonart HD product,supposed to look like granit and wear 3 times better than laminex. Do any readers have first hand knowledge of this finish?would love to hear from someone who has any ideasThanks Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 17Jun 15, 2012 10:12 am Hi, I have the same decision pending!! LOL So can you please tell me which way you went and whether you regret it or not? With a family of 7 cleaning is a HUGE job and the kitchen is well used so i am wanting something that will look good and last. Thanks Mum 2 5 Re: black gloss or matt benchtops???? 18Jun 16, 2012 12:07 pm Hi, Its been nearly a year since I've had my kitchen installed and I did use Wilsonart HD for my benchtops. Unfortunately no one I knew had even heard of this product let alone used it.so the decision was difficult to say the least.If you arn't familiar with 'HD' let me sum it up in a quick explanation as a high low definition laminex, To be honest in the first few weeks of use I did wonder if it was the right decision,I saw a few light scratches and cursed the day I chose it, but let me say those few scratches disappeared soon after,only explanation I can think that it might have had a thin top film of some sort of protection and when used, slowly disappeared. Now I love it! It costs slightly more than ordinary gloss but worth it I think. I asked this question of one of the forum's resident cabinet makers who may/may not wish to identify himself to answer other questions if he sees this, but the rersponse… 3 7731 This link might answer your question. I had the same issue and it turned out to be the roller. https://www.sherwin-williams.com/painti ... %20coating. 4 18170 Hi, planning on using the attached stone pieces in my bathroom. I want to remove stains and gloss seal. Can I get some advice on best way to remove stains and best… 0 6713 |